By: Isabelle Cloy
KENNESAW, Ga. –Kennesaw State women's volleyball team is currently in sole possession of first place in ASUN, and senior outside hitter Dani Ballou is one of the key factors behind the team's rise to this position. A hyper-talented player, she is loved by fans and teammates for her attitude on and off the court.
Ballou has been playing volleyball for a long time and during her career she has had coaches that have made a lasting impact on her career and life.
Originally from Clearwater, Fla., Ballou expressed that she did not want to leave Florida for college. However, her assistant coach from her club team, Camille Pedraza, guided her to KSU.
"My assistant coach for club volleyball played at KSU for four years," she said, and that KSU was, "perfect for her Dani."
From the moment that Ballou stepped foot on the KSU campus, she felt that the community and culture was different. She expressed that she feels even though Kennesaw State is a big school, it is still a tight knit community, which made it the ideal school for her.
KSU head coach, Keith Schunzel, has played a huge role in developing Ballou as a player. Schunzel remembers that when she first toured the school, she was not confident that she could play at the level she needed to. As Ballou's confidence and game grew, she became the player that Schunzel knew she had the potential to be. He expressed how proud he is of all she has accomplished during her time at KSU.
Ballou, who is now a senior, reflects on her career at KSU as a period of growth, determination and leadership.
"My voice has grown a lot," she explained. "Volleyball has helped me deal with issues on and off the court, it shapes who you are as a person. It shapes every aspect of your life."
Ballou has some incredible career accomplishments. The star hitter currently is sitting at 938 career kills, placing her her 6th all-time at KSU. Surprisingly, Ballou did not even know that she was approaching 1,000 kills. She feels no pressure to reach this milestone. The Floridian stated that during matches she does not have time to think about anything other than the point at hand. She is completely engrossed in the moment.
Despite being an offense superstar, Ballou remains humble. She gives credit to the team and their incredible hard work for the terrific start to the season. She acknowledges that the team is having fun, and that is a huge part of why they are able to play so well.
Schunzel says that her humility is one of the things that makes her such a valuable teammate. He describes Ballou's positivity as contagious and that she exuberates goodness. He says that her positive attitude makes every day with her a moment to remember.
As all good things do, Ballou's time at KSU is coming to an end. After five years and countless memories with the team, it is nearing time for Ballou's final bow.
"I wish we had her for another five years," said Schunzel when reminiscing about Ballou's time at KSU.
"It is sad, I don't want it to end," Ballou shared about her time at KSU. "I feel very content with what I have done here. It has shaped me into the person I am today. I feel very happy to be here."
